Oby Ezekwesili born Anambra, Nigeria April 28, 1963. Chartered accountant; politician and activist. Co-founded anti-corruption agency Transparency International, 1993. Education Minister, 2006. Vice-President, World Bank Africa, 2007. Founded Bring Back Our Girls, 2014. Arrested for sit-out protest against kidnapped girls, Abuja, 2018.
“It’s time for women to become truly global.” (5 Memorable Quotes, May 20, 2017; photo Fojusi David, Jul. 6, 2018)
Asli Erdoğan born Istanbul, Turkey March 8, 1967. Turkish novelist and columnist. Arrested for newspaper criticism, 2016. Received Remarque Peace Prize, 2017.
“I’m a person who is anti-war, who is anti-militaristic and who rejects all forms of killing including for self-defense; I’m someone who doesn’t even eat meat.” (defense at trial, Platform 24, Dec. 30, 2016; photo dw.com)
Eleanor Franklin Egan (née Bertha Eleanor Pedigo) born Lawrence County, IL April 28, 1879 (d. 1925). International news correspondent. Covered Russo-Japanese War, 1903; Philippines, 1911; World War in Iraq, 1918; famines in China, 1921, Russia, 1922; Armenian massacre, 1923. Official delegate to history’s most successful disarmament, Washington Naval Conference, 1922.
“Heaps of moldering soldier clothes and dead men’s bones scattered and kicked about! Such things cause waves of shuddering nausea.” (The War in the Cradle of the World, p. 239; photo findagrave.com)
Katherine Philips Edson born Kenton, OH January 12, 1870 (d. 1933). California “Stateslady.” Progressive social reformer & suffrage leader. Official US delegate to history’s most successful disarmament conference, Washington Naval Treaty, 1922.
On jury reform: “We started at the top and we must build from the bottom.” (1915; Holly McCammon et al., “On Becoming Full Citizens”, p. 11-21)
On women's political engagement: “[We] entered politics at one of the most critical times in our History. . . [and] helped to win a world war. . . [However, our] sacrifice of blood and treasure, poured out with hearts brimming with patriotism. . . [has been taken advantage of by] heartless profiteers who have grown swollen and fat off the peoples’ sorrow and sacrifice.” (Eunice Eichelberger, “Hearts Brimming with Patriotism”, in Robert Cherny, California Women in Politics, p. 309; photo wikicommons)
Anna Edinger (née Goldschmidts) born Frankfurt, Germany May 17, 1863 (d. 1929). German women’s rights leader and pacifist. Joined Frankfurt Peace Association, 1893; German Peace Association delegate on Peace Committee of International Congress of Women Geneva, 1908, Stockholm, 1911. (photo frankfurter frauenzimmer)
Anna Lenah Elgström born Helsingborg, Sweden December 29, 1884 (d. 1968). Swedish pacifist author. Wrote of her opposition to Great War in novel Mother, 1917. Active in International Women’s Committee for Lasting Peace; delegate to WILPF conference, Zurich, 1919, which she chronicled in Women of the Time.
“We women are revolting against state mechanism, against an age of materialism, which is dragging down the individual soul, robbing it of reverence for life, deflecting it from the purpose of life, purity, love, knowledge. I have tried to give voice to the pains of motherhood, a motherhood which recognizes these purposes, which venerates life. War is not the only destructive force. The age is material. . . It is a game, a pleasure. It becomes mechanical and this breeds war. Women are to blame as well as men. We ought to possess enough mother conscience, mother responsibility, to rise up and stop this life of materialism and mechanical organization. I am not hopeful this can come quickly. I am not sure we have entered on the last war. I believe in evolution, and evolution comes slowly. It will come in time. . . I believe in the women of the future.” (to Madeleine Doty, Behind the Battle Line, 1918, pp. 143-4; photo Wikipedia)
Gunhild Emanuelsen born Kristania, Norway December 31, 1914 (d. 2006). Norwegian labor organizer and communist peace leader. Head of No Nuclear Weapons. Socialist Left member of parliament, 1977-85; resisted German occupation. Took part in Nordic Peace, March 1982. (photo portretter.no)
Elisabet “Lisa” Eurén-Berner born Luleå, Sweden October 31, 1886 (d. 1971). Swedish schoolteacher, popular writer, internationalist, and peace educator. Active in WILPF and Swedish Peace Society. Leader in Nordic peace education.
On her life's work toward human internationalism: “[It is] preparing space for the kingdom of God in this existence." (1927, in Ingela Nilsson, Nationalism in the Service of Peace, p. 120)
“This feeling [love of country] needs to be expanded to encompass all people, to become real human love, goodwill, which leads to cooperation. We must come to feel it as a prominent Englishman, Lord Esher, not long ago, saying, 'I now regard England as my home and Europe as my country!’ In this spirit must we learn to look all over the world.” (1930, in Nilsson, p. 182)
Beatrice Ensor born Marseille, France August 11, 1886 (d. 1974). British internationalist educator and Theosophist. Founded New (World) Education Fellowship for international understanding, world citizenship, and peace, 1921. Profound influence on UNESCO. Rescued starving Hungarian children post WWI.
"The evolutionary process and time will force us to world fellowship, but achievement of this goal can best be hastened by educators." (New York Times, Aug. 14, 1936; photo Wikipedia)
Elizabeth of Portugal (AKA Isabel of Portugal, née Elizabeth of Aragon) born Aragon, Spain January 4, 1271 (d. 1336). “The Peacemaker.” Achieved Peace of Alcañices, settling border of Portugal and Castile, 1297; arbitrated dispute of Castile and Aragon, 1307; prevented battle at Alvalade by riding a mule between armies, 1307. On her deathbed, rode to Estremoz to prevent war between Portugal and Castile, 1336. Honored for feeding poor during famine.
Last words: “Mary. . . protect me from the enemy and receive me at the hour of death.” (Vilaça portrait wikipedia)
Amelia Earhart born Atchison, KS July 24, 1897 (d. 1937). Famous aviator; lifelong pacifist. After seeing a Canadian soldier amputee, she volunteered as nurse in World War I, 1918. Promoted peace on national speaking tours.
“I realized what world war meant, instead of new uniforms and brass bands I saw only the results of a four years’ desperate struggle; men without arms and legs, men who were paralyzed and men who were blind.” (Rose Duncan blog, Dec. 2, 2009; photo National Postal Museum)
Crystal Eastman born Marlborough, MA June 25, 1881 (d. 1928). Pacifist Socialist; feminist attorney; founded Woman's Peace Party 1915; co-founded American Union Against Militarism 1914; co-founded National Civil Liberties Bureau (CLB), predecessor of ACLU 1917; stopped war with Mexico.
"People acting directly. . . stopped that war, and can stop all wars if enough of them will act together and act quickly. . ." (Suggestions to AUAM, 1916-7; photo Wikipedia)
Sylvia Johnstone Easton born Alberta, Canada January 15, 1914 (d. 1990). Human rights leader; advocate for aboriginal Canadians and the homeless.
Shirin Ebadi born Hamadan, Iran June 21, 1947. Nobel Peace Prize 2003 for human rights of women and children. Iranian justice.
"Since the advent of Islam. . . Iran's civilization and culture has become imbued and infused with humanitarianism, respect for the life, belief and faith of others, propagation of tolerance and compromise and avoidance of violence, bloodshed and war." (Nobel Address, Nov. 10, 2003; photo Nobel)
Annevig Schelde Ebbe born Århus, Denmark August 6, 1983. Danish actress; peace activist; sang in mass protest against Iraq War 2001; second-generation peacemaker, daughter of WILPF president.
“Just as the war against Afghanistan was, any war on Iraq would just be a comma in the great history of colonialism and globalization and economic interests that ravage out there no matter what.”
I want to sing a song for you there
Is about what it's about
To live and love, and really think
Is not that we are here for?
(War and Peace, No. 1, 2003, p.17); photo Andreas Bergman.dk)
Joan Ecklein (née Levin) born July 4, 1935. Professor of Sociology, University of Massachusetts; peace activist; author. Expert on community organization. Co-founded Women's Strike for Peace, opposing Vietnam War and nuclear weapons, 1961. Co-president of WILPF Boston. Led Raging Grannies' protest activity of knitting net around Army tank.
“The United States government must not escape responsibility for the horrible carnage wrought upon Iraq. The people of this country, who have borne the cost of the war and its aftermath, must demand nothing less than a full accounting and full compensation by our government for the disaster that lingers after the withdrawal of most U.S. forces. It is a matter of basic morality.” (Peace & Freedom, Spring 2012, p. 11; photo webforgirls.net)
Anna B. Eckstein born Coburg, Saxony, Germany June 14, 1860 (d. 1947). German-American peace leader; Boston teacher who collected 6 million signatures for peace on eve of World War I.
"Mutual pledge of the 44 nations to respect, as inviolable, every nation's fundamental factors of life and natural liberty. . . [T]o adjust all international interests by treaty, and by arbitration reduce the necessity of armaments." (petition in Swarthmore Peace Coll., Eckstein; photo landesbibliothek-coburg.de)
MacGregor Eddy born March 30, 1949. Nurse and antiwar protester. Member of WILPF, the War Resisters League, and the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. First protested against Vietnam War, 1965. Protested Gulf War, 1991, Iraq War, 2003. Arrested for nuclear missile protest, Vandenburg AFB, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011.
"I'm not telling people to get arrested or hurt. But if people aren't willing to take risks for peace, war will always win." (July 3, 2003, Monterey County NOW)
“In the presence of this terrible wrong we must take a stand and bear witness. . . From my experience in the Vietnam war I know it makes a difference. I'm not asking people to think like me, but by my actions I am making people think about what is going on." (March 27, 2003, Monterey County NOW; photo catholicworkernews)
Marian Wright Edelman born Bennettsville, SC June 6, 1939. Led Mississippi voter registration 1964-6; first Black woman admitted to state bar. Executive committee Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee 1961-3; Active promoter of nonviolence; Schweitzer Prize 1988; Merton Prize 1990; founding president of Children's Defense Fund 1973.
"You really can change the world if you care enough. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time." (Kauffman Foundation interview; photo Childrens Defense Fund)
Donna Edwards born Yanceyville, NC June 28, 1958. Co-founder and first Director of National Network to End Domestic Violence, 1976; US Congresswoman for Maryland 2008-present. Arrested for civil disobedience in Darfur protest, 2009.
"I will continue to be an outspoken voice to end the war in Iraq. The way forward is to start a diplomatic offensive in the region and begin to withdraw our troops now. We need a political solution, not a military solution." (Nov. 4, 2008; photo Wikipedia)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
